The nurse notices that an older female nursing home resident is not eating and that her heart rate is faster than as usual. Which should the nurse do to eliminate pneumonia as a potential cause of the change in her status?
a. Obtain a specimen for aerobic blood cultures.
b. Send the resident for a chest x-ray exam promptly.
c. Analyze sputum for color, texture, and volume.
d. Compare tympanic temperature to the baseline.
C
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A Incorrect. Sputum cultures are indicated to assess a resident for pneumonia; blood cultures are likely to show no growth unless the resident has severe sepsis.
B Incorrect. A chest x-ray study is a nonsensitive, nonspecific diagnostic tool for determining the presence of pneumonia in an older adult.
C Correct. Sputum is a sensitive and specific clinical indicator of pneumonia for older adults in nursing homes. If pneumonia is causing this resident's anorexia and tachycardia, the sputum should be cloudy, colored, and thick, especially if the resident is dehydrated, indicating an infection.
D Incorrect. Fever can be a late indicator of infection for an older adult.
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